Missouri Man Missing 6 Years Found Deceased; Police Need Help

The sad reality is that not every story has a happy ending. That's the case for a missing Missouri man whose whereabouts have not been known for over 6 years who was recently found deceased and police need help understanding what happened.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol just shared details of a sad discovery that was made recently in rural Ripley County, Missouri. Jerry B. Hale who was born in November of 1972 was reported missing on August 28, 2019. On November 4, 2025, human remains were found on a private property in rural Ripley County. Autopsy results a few days later confirmed that the remains found were that of Jerry B. Hale.

The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, the Ripley County Coroner’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol - Division of Drug and Crime Control are now trying to determine what happened to Mr. Hale and need your assistance. If you have any information that you think would help them determine what happened to Jerry B. Hale in rural Ripley County, Missouri, you're encouraged to contact the law enforcement investigators from Ripley County at 573-996-2719 or Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Johnson at 573-840-9500. Even the smallest detail you may have could be crucial in helping this man's family have closure. The investigation is ongoing as of the date of this writing.